Power/fiber hybrid cable

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a hybrid cable having a jacket with a central portion positioned between left and right portions. The central portion contains at least one optical fiber and the left and right portions contain electrical conductors. The left and right portions can be manually torn from the central portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/277,347,filed May 14, 2014, which application claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/823,125, filed May 14, 2013,which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to hybrid communicationsystems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates totelecommunications cables capable of transmitting both optical signalsand electrical power.

BACKGROUND

Rapid growth of portable high-speed wireless transceiver devices (e.g.,smartphones, tablets, laptop computers, etc.) continues in today'smarket, thereby creating higher demand for untethered contact. Thus,there is growing demand for integrated voice, data and video capable ofbeing transmitted wirelessly at high data transmission rates. To providethe bandwidth needed to support this demand will require the costeffective and efficient deployment of additional fixed locationtransceivers (i.e., cell sites or nodes) generating both large and smallwireless coverage areas. Telecommunications cables capable transmittingboth electrical power and optical signals that are capable of beingmanufactured and installed in an effective, cost effective manner cangreatly enhance the ability of service providers to implement coverageareas suitable for meeting growing market demands.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a cable carries bothelectrical power and optical communications. In certain examples, theelectrical power and optical communications can be directed to a devicefor generating a cellular coverage area (e.g., a macrocell, a microcell,a metrocell, a picocell, a femtocell, etc.)

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to telecommunicationscables that facilitate the fast, low cost and simple deployment ofoptical fiber and power to interface with active devices such as devicesfor generating wireless communication coverage areas (e.g., wirelesstransceivers) and other active devices (e.g., cameras).

Still other aspects of the present disclosure relate to hybridpower/optical fiber cables that facilitate the deployment of wirelesscommunication coverage areas at various locations such as stadiums,shopping areas, hotel, high rise office buildings, multi-dwelling units,suburban environments, corporate and university campuses, in-buildingareas, near-building areas, tunnels, canyons, roadside areas and coastalareas. Still further aspects of the present disclosure relate topower/optical fiber hybrid cables that enhance the coverage areasprovided by cellular technologies (e.g., GSM, CDMA, UMTS, LTE, IiMax,WiFi, etc.).

A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a hybrid cablehaving an outer jacket including a transverse cross-sectional profilethat defines a major axis and a minor axis. The outer jacket has aheight measured along the minor axis and a width measured along themajor axis. The width is greater than the height such that thetransverse cross-sectional profile of the outer jacket is elongatedalong the major axis. The outer jacket includes a left portion, a rightportion and a central portion. The left, right and central portions arepositioned along the major axis with the central portion being disposedbetween the left and right portions. The left portion defines a leftpassage, the right portion defines a right passage and the centralportion defines a central passage. The hybrid cable also includes a leftelectrical conductor positioned within the left passage, a rightelectrical conductor positioned within the right passage and at leastone optical fiber positioned within the central passage. The hybridcable includes a left pre-defined tear location positioned between thecentral portion and the left portion of the outer jacket and a rightpre-defined tear location positioned between the central portion and theright portion of the outer jacket. The left pre-defined tear location isweakened such that the left portion of the outer jacket can be manuallytorn from the central portion of the outer jacket. The left pre-definedtear location is configured such that the left portion of the outerjacket fully surrounds the left passage and the central portion of theouter jacket fully surrounds the central passage after the left portionof the outer jacket has been torn from the central portion of the outerjacket. The right pre-defined tear location is weakened such that theright portion of the outer jacket can be manually torn from the centralportion of the outer jacket. The right pre-defined tear location isconfigured such that the right portion of the outer jacket fullysurrounds the right passage and the central portion of the outer jacketfully surrounds the central passage after the right portion of the outerjacket has been torn from the central portion of the outer jacket.

A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in thedescription that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individualfeatures and to combinations of features. It is to be understood thatboth the forgoing general description and the following detaileddescription are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictiveof the broad inventive concepts upon which the examples disclosed hereinare based.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an example distribution of wirelesscoverage areas deployed using a hybrid cable system in accordance withthe principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a power/optical fiberhybrid cable in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure, the cross-section is taken along section line 2-2 of FIG. ;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the hybrid cable of FIG. 2with electrically conductive portions of the cable showing separatedfrom a central optical fiber portion of the cable;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the hybrid cable of FIGS. 2 and 3 with theelectrically conductive portions of the hybrid cable trimmed relative tothe central fiber optic portion of the hybrid cable;

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of another power/opticalfiber hybrid cable in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a system for manufacturing thehybrid cables in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various examples will be described in detail with reference to thefigures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts andassemblies throughout the several views. Any examples set forth in thisspecification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth someof the many possible variations of the inventive aspects disclosedherein.

FIG. 1 shows a system 10 in accordance with the principles of thepresent disclosure for enhancing the coverage areas provided by cellulartechnologies (e.g., GSM, CDMA, UMTS, LTE, WiMax, WiFi, etc.). The system10 includes a base location 11 (i.e., a hub) and a plurality of wirelesscoverage area defining equipment 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d, 12 e and 12 fdistributed about the base location 11. In certain example, the baselocation 11 can include a structure 14 (e.g., a closet, hut, building,housing, enclosure, cabinet, etc.) protecting telecommunicationsequipment such as racks, fiber optic adapter panels, passive opticalsplitters, wavelength division multi-plexers, fiber splice locations,optical fiber patching and/or fiber interconnect structures and otheractive and/or passive equipment. In the depicted example, the baselocation 11 is connected to a central office 16 or other remote locationby a fiber optic cable such as a multi-fiber optical trunk cable 18 thatprovides high band-width two-way optical communication between the baselocation 11 and the central office 16 or other remote location. In thedepicted example, the base location 11 is connected to the wirelesscoverage area defining equipment 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d, 12 e and 12 fby hybrid cables 20. The hybrid cables 20 are each capable oftransmitting both power and communications between the base location 11and the wireless coverage area defining equipment 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12d, 12 e and 12 f.

The wireless coverage area defining equipment 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d, 12e and 12 f can each include one or more wireless transceiver 22. Thetransceivers 22 can include single transceivers 22 or distributed arraysof transceivers 22. As used herein, a “wireless transceiver” is a deviceor arrangement of devices capable of transmitting and receiving wirelesssignals. A wireless transceiver typically includes an antenna forenhancing receiving and transmitting the wireless signals. Wirelesscoverage areas are defined around each of the wireless coverage areadefining equipment 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d, 12 e and 12 f Wirelesscoverage areas can also be referred to as cells, cellular coverageareas, wireless coverage zones, or like terms. Examples of and/oralternative terms for wireless transceivers include radio-heads,wireless routers, cell sites, wireless nodes, etc.

In the depicted example of FIG. 1, the base location 11 is shown as abase transceiver station (BTS) located adjacent to a radio tower 24supporting and elevating a plurality the wireless coverage area definingequipment 12 a. In one example, the equipment 12 a can define wirelesscoverage areas such as a macrocells or microcells (i.e., cells eachhaving a coverage area less than or equal to about 2 kilometers wide).The wireless coverage area defining equipment 12 b is shown deployed ata suburban environment (e.g., on a light pole in a residentialneighborhood) and the equipment 12 c is shown deployed at a roadsidearea (e.g., on a roadside power pole). The equipment 12 c could also beinstalled at other locations such as tunnels, canyons, coastal areas,etc. In one example, the equipment 12 b, 12 c can define wirelesscoverage areas such as microcells or picocells (i.e., cells each havinga coverage area equal to or less than about 200 meters wide). Theequipment 12 d is shown deployed at a campus location (e.g., auniversity or corporate campus), the equipment 12 e is shown deployed ata large public venue location (e.g., a stadium), and the equipment 12 fis shown installed at an in-building or near-building environment (e.g.,multi-dwelling unit, high rise, school, etc.). In one example, theequipment 12 d, 12 e, and 12 f can define wireless coverage areas suchas microcells, picocells, or femtocells (i.e., cells each having acoverage area equal to or less than about 10 meters wide).

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken through one of thehybrid cables 20 of FIG. 1. Hybrid cable 20 includes an outer jacket 100having a transverse cross-sectional profile that defines a major axis102 and a minor axis 104. The outer jacket has a height H measured alongthe minor axis 104 and a width W measured along the major axis 102. Thewidth W is greater than the height H such that the transversecross-sectional profile of the outer jacket 100 is elongated along themajor axis 102.

The outer jacket 100 can include a left portion 106, a right portion 108and a central portion 110. The left portion 106, the right portion 108and the central portion 110 can be positioned along the major axis 102with the central portion 110 being disposed between the left portion 106and the right portion 108. The left portion 106 can define a leftpassage 112, the right portion 108 can define a right passage 114 andthe central portion 110 can define a central passage 116. The passages112, 114 and 116 can have lengths that extend along a centrallongitudinal axis 118 of the cable 20 for the length of the cable. Aleft electrical conductor 120 is shown positioned within the leftpassage 112, a right electrical conductor 122 is shown positioned withinthe right passage 114 and at least one optical fiber 124 is shownpositioned within the central passage 116. The left electrical conductor120, the right electrical conductor 122 and the optical fiber 124 havelengths that extend along the central longitudinal axis 118 of the cable20.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the hybrid cable 20 includes a leftpre-defined tear location 126 positioned between the central portion 110and the left portion 106 of the outer jacket 100, and a rightpre-defined tear location 128 positioned between the central portion 110and the right portion 108 of the outer jacket 100. The left pre-definedtear location 126 is weakened such that the left portion 106 of theouter jacket 100 can be manually torn from the central portion 110 ofthe outer jacket 100. Similarly, the right pre-defined tear location 128is weakened such that the right portion 108 of the outer jacket 100 canbe manually torn from the central portion 110 of the outer jacket 100.The left pre-defined tear location 126 is configured such that the leftportion 106 of the outer jacket 100 fully surrounds the left passage 112and the central portion 110 of the outer jacket 100 fully surrounds thecentral passage 116 after the left portion 106 of the outer jacket 100has been torn from the central portion 110 of the outer jacket 100. Inthis way, the left electrical conductor 120 remains fully insulated andthe optical fiber 120 remains fully protected after the left portion 106has been torn from the central portion 110. The right pre-defined tearlocation 128 is configured such that the right portion 108 of the outerjacket 100 fully surrounds the right passage 114 and the central portion110 of the outer jacket 100 fully surrounds the central passage 119after the right portion 108 of the outer jacket 100 has been torn fromthe central portion 110 of the outer jacket 100. In this way, the rightelectrical conductor 122 remains fully insulated and the optical fiber124 remains fully protected after the right portion 108 has been tornfrom the central portion 110.

FIG. 3 shows the hybrid cable 20 with both the left portion 106 and theright portion 108 torn away from the central portion 110. In thisconfiguration, both the left electrical conductor 120 and the rightelectrical conductor 122 are fully insulated by their corresponding leftand right portions 106, 108. Additionally, the central portion 110 has arectangular transverse cross-sectional shape that fully surrounds thecentral passage 116 so as to protect the optical fiber or fibers 124.

It will be appreciated that the left and right electrical conductors120, 122 have a construction suitable for carrying electricity. It willbe appreciated that the electrical conductors can have a solid orstranded construction. Example sizes of the electrical conductorsinclude 12 gauge, 16 gauge, or other sizes.

The outer jacket 100 is preferably constructed of a polymeric material.In one example, the hybrid cable 20 and the outer jacket 100 are plenumrated. In certain examples, the outer jacket 100 can be manufactured ofa fire-retardant plastic material. In certain examples, the outer jacket100 can be manufactured of a low smoke zero halogen material. Examplematerials for the outer jacket include polyvinyl chloride (PVC),fluorinated ethylene polymer (FEP), polyolefin formulations including,for example, polyethylene, and other materials.

The central passage 116 can contain one or more optical fibers 124. Incertain examples, the optical fibers 124 can be coated optical fibershaving cores less than 12 microns in diameter, cladding layers less than140 microns in diameter, and coating layers less than 300 microns indiameter. It will be appreciated that the core and cladding layerstypically include a silica based material. In certain examples, thecladding layer can have an index of a refraction that is less than theindex of refraction of the core to allow optical signals that aretransmitted through the optical fibers to be confined generally to thecore. It will be appreciated that in certain examples, multiple claddinglayers can be provided. In certain examples, optical fibers can includebend insensitive optical fibers having multiple cladding layersseparated by trench layers. In certain examples, protective coatings(e.g., a polymeric material such as actelate) can form coating layersaround the cladding layers. In certain examples, the coating layers canhave diameters less than 300 microns, or less than 260 microns, or inthe range of 240 to 260 microns. In certain examples, the optical fibers124 can be unbuffered. In other examples, the optical fibers can includea tight buffer layer, a loose buffer layer, or a semi-tight bufferlayer. In certain examples, the buffer layers can have an outer diameterof about 800 to 1,000 microns. The optical fibers can include singlemode optical fibers, multi-mode optical fibers, bend insensitive fibersor other fibers. In still other embodiments, the optical fibers 124 canbe ribbonized.

As shown at FIG. 4, the left and right portions 106, 108 can be trimmedrelative to the central portion 110 after the left and right portions106, 104 have been torn away from the central portion 110. In thisconfiguration, the central portion 110 extends distally beyond the endsof the left and right portions 106, 108. In certain examples, insulationdisplacement connectors can be used to pierce through the jacketmaterials of the left and right portions 106, 108 to electricallyconnect the left and right electrical connectors 120, 122 to anelectrical power source, ground, active components or other structures.It will be appreciated that the optical fibers 124 can be directlyterminated with optical connectors. In other examples, connectorizedpigtails can be spliced to the ends of the optical fibers 124.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the outer jacket 100 includes a top side 130and a bottom side 132 separated by the height H. As depicted, the topand bottom sides 130, 132 are generally parallel to one another. Each ofthe left and right pre-defined tear locations 126, 128 includes an upperslit 134 that extends downwardly from the top side 130, a lower slit 136that extends upwardly from the bottom side 132 and a non-slitted portion138 positioned between the upper and lower slits 134, 136. In oneexample embodiment, the upper and lower slits 134, 136 are partiallyre-closed slits. In the depicted embodiment, the left and rightpre-defined tear locations 126, 128 also include jacket weakeningmembers 140 that are imbedded in the non-slitted portions 138. By way ofexample, the jacket weakening members 140 can include strands,monofilaments, threads, filaments or other members. In certain examples,the jacket weakening members 140 extend along the central longitudinalaxis 118 of the cable 20 for the length of the cable 20. In certainexamples, the jacket weakening members 140 are aligned along the majoraxis 102. In certain examples, the upper and lower slits 130, 136 aswell as the jacket weakening member 140 of the left pre-defined tearlocation 126 are aligned along a left tearing plane P_(L) that isoriented generally perpendicular relative to the major axis 102.Similarly, the upper and lower slits 134, 136 as well as the jacketweakening member 140 of the right pre-defined tear location 128 arealigned along a right tearing plane P_(R) that is oriented generallyperpendicular with respect to the major axis 102.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the hybrid cable 20 can include a tensilestrength structure 142 that provides tensile enforcement to the hybridcable 20 so as to prevent tensile loads from being applied to theoptical fibers 124. In certain embodiments, the tensile strengthstructure 142 can include reinforcing structures such as Aramid yarns orother reinforcing fibers. In still other embodiments, the tensilestrength structure 142 can have an oriented polymeric construction. Instill other examples, a tensile strength structure 142 can include areinforcing tape. In certain examples, the reinforcing tape can bebonded to the outer jacket 100 so as to line the central passage 116. Incertain examples, no central buffer tube is provided between the opticalfibers 124 and the tensile reinforcing structure 142. In certainexamples, the tensile strength structure 142 can include a reinforcingtape that extends along the length of the hybrid cable 20 and haslongitudinal edges/ends 144 that are separated so as to define a gap 144therein between. In use, the tensile strength member 142 can be anchoredto a structure such as a fiber optic connector, housing or otherstructure so as to limit the transfer of tensile load to the opticalfibers 124. It will be appreciated that the tensile strength structure142 can be anchored by techniques such as crimping, adhesives,fasteners, bands or other structures.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative hybrid cable 20′ having the sameconstruction as the hybrid cable 20 except two tensile strengthstructures 142A, 142B have been provided within the central passage 116.Tensile strength members 142A, 142B each include a tensile reinforcingtape that is bonded to the central portion 110 of the outer jacket 100.The tensile strength members 142A, 142B can include portions thatcircumferentially overlap one another within the central passage 116. Incertain examples, by stripping away an end portion of the centralportion 110, the tensile strength structures 142A, 142B can be exposedand readily secured to a structure such as a fiber optic connector, apanel, a housing or other structure. In one example, the tensilestrength structures 142A, 142B can be crimped, adhesively secured orotherwise attached to rods (e.g., epoxy rods reinforced with fibers)that are in turn secured within a ruggedized fiber optic connector suchas the fiber optic connector disclosed at U.S. Pat. No. 7,744,288 whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, or the fiber opticconnector disclosed at U.S. Pat. No. 7,918,609, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

It will be appreciated that cables in accordance with the principles ofthe present disclosure can be manufactured using a one-passmanufacturing process. In certain examples, the same one-passmanufacturing process can be used to manufacture different types ofcables by substituting in different types of electrical conductors(e.g., stranded or non-stranded) and by using different types of opticalfibers (e.g., buffered optical fibers, non-buffered optical fibers,ribbonized fibers, multi-mode fibers, single-mode fibers, bendinsensitive fibers, etc.).

Referring to FIG. 6, a schematic representation of a system 200 formaking the fiber optic cable 20 is shown. The system 200 includes across head, generally designated 202, that receives polymeric (e.g.,thermoplastic) material from an extruder 204. A hopper 206 is used tofeed material into the extruder 204. A conveyor 208 can be used toconvey material (e.g., base material and possibly additives) to thehopper 206. In other embodiments, additional conveyors can be used toconvey additional materials to the hopper 206. The extruder 204 isheated by a heating system 212 that may include one or more heatingelements for heating zones of the extruder as well as the cross head 202to desired processing temperatures.

One or more of the optical fibers 124 can be fed into the cross head 202from one or more feed rolls 214. The system 200 can also include one ormore supply rolls 218 for feeding the tensile strength structure 142 orstructures to the cross-head 202 and a longitudinal shaping tool 220.The tensile strength structure 142 is disposed on the supply roll 218.The shaping tool 220 is used to form/shape the tensile strengthstructure 142 (e.g., one or more pieces of reinforcing tape) into agenerally cylindrical shape that surrounds the one or more fibers 124prior to entering the cross-head 202. The system 200 further includesfeed rolls 250, 251 for feeding the electrical conductors 120, 122 intothe cross-head 202, and feed rolls 254, 255 for feeding the jacketweakening members 140 into the cross-head 202.

A water trough 222 is located downstream from the cross head 202 forcooling the extruded product that exits the cross head 202. The cooledfinal product is stored on a take-up roll 224 rotated by a drivemechanism 226. A controller 228 can coordinate the operation of thevarious components of the system 200. The cross-head 202 can beconfigured to provide the jacket 100 with the desired transversecross-sectional shape of FIG. 2. The system 200 further includes aslitting module 230 located immediately downstream from the cross head202. The slitting module 230 includes blade slitting blades 232 thatform slits in the outer jacket 100 corresponding to the upper and lowerslits 134, 136. Preferably, the slitting blades 232 slit the outerjacket 100 while the material of the outer jacket is still at leastpartially molten. In this way, in certain examples, the slits at leastpartially reclose after slitting. In this way, the slits form weakenedportions in the jacket. In other embodiments, the slits may remain fullyopen.

In use, the optical fibers 124, the left and right electrical conductors120, 122, the tensile reinforcing structure 142 and the jacket weakeningmembers 140 are all fed through the cross head 202. Prior to reachingthe cross head 202, the shaping tool 220 can shape the tensile strengthstructure 142 around the optical fibers 120 such that the tensilestrength member 142 surrounds the optical fibers as the optical fibersand the tensile strength structure 142 pass through the cross-head 202.As the components pass through the cross head, the material of the outerjacket 100 is extruded about the cylindrical tensile strength structure142 as well as about the left and right electrical conductors 120, 122and the jacket weakening members 140. In certain examples, the materialforming the outer jacket 100 of the cable 20 leaves the cross-head 202having a shape/profile of the type shown at FIG. 2. Thereafter, thecutting blades 232 of the slitting module 230 slit the upper and lowerslits 134, 136 into the jacket. The cable is then cooled at the trough222 and is collected on the take-up spool 224.

Various modifications and alterations of this disclosure will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeand spirit of this disclosure, and it should be understood that thescope of this disclosure is not to be unduly limited to the illustrativeexamples set forth herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hybrid cable comprising: an outer jacket havinga transverse cross-sectional profile that defines a major axis and aminor axis, the outer jacket having a height measured along the minoraxis and a width measured along the major axis, the width being greaterthan the height such that the transverse cross-sectional profile of theouter jacket is elongated along the major axis; the outer jacketincluding a top side and an opposite bottom side separated by theheight, the top and bottom sides of the outer jacket each having aconstant thickness such that the top and bottom sides are flat andgenerally parallel to one another; the outer jacket including a leftportion, a right portion and a central portion, the left, right andcentral portions being positioned along the major axis with the centralportion being disposed between the left and right portions; a leftpre-defined tear location positioned between the central portion and theleft portion of the outer jacket; and a right pre-defined tear locationpositioned between the central portion and the right portion of theouter jacket, the left and right pre-defined tear locations each beinguninterrupted and each running continuously along a length of the hybridcable.
 2. The hybrid cable of claim 1, wherein the central portion ofthe outer jacket has a rectangular transverse cross-sectional shapeafter the left and right portions of the outer jacket have been tornaway from the central portion of the outer jacket.
 3. The hybrid cableof claim 1, wherein the left and right pre-defined tear locations eachinclude an upper slit that extends downwardly from the top side, a lowerslit that extends upwardly from the bottom side, and a non-slittedportion positioned between the upper and lower slits.
 4. The hybridcable of claim 3, wherein jacket weakening members are embedded in thenon-slitted portions.
 5. The hybrid cable of claim 4, wherein the jacketweakening members are aligned along the major axis.
 6. The hybrid cableof claim 3, wherein the upper and lower slits of the left pre-definedtear location are aligned along a left tearing plane, and wherein theupper and lower slits of the right pre-defined tear location are alignedalong a right tearing plane.
 7. The hybrid cable of claim 6, wherein theleft and right pre-defined tear locations each include a jacketweakening member embedded in the non-slitted portions of the outerjacket.
 8. The hybrid cable of claim 7, wherein the jacket weakeningmembers are positioned along the major axis.
 9. The hybrid cable ofclaim 1, wherein the left portion defines a left passage having a firstelectrical conductor positioned therein, the right portion defines aright passage having a second electrical conductor positioned therein,and the central portion defines a central passage having at least oneoptical fiber positioned therein.
 10. The hybrid cable of claim 9,wherein the first and second electrical conductors are solid metal orbraided metal.
 11. The hybrid cable of claim 9, wherein the first andsecond electrical conductors are solid copper or braided copper.
 12. Thehybrid cable of claim 9, further comprising a tensile strength structurepositioned within the central passage.
 13. The hybrid cable of claim 12,wherein the tensile strength structure is anchored to structure to limitthe transfer of tensile load to the at least one optical fiber.
 14. Thehybrid cable of claim 13, wherein the structure is a fiber opticconnector.
 15. The hybrid cable of claim 12, wherein the tensilestrength structure includes a reinforcing tape.
 16. The hybrid cable ofclaim 15, wherein the reinforcing tape is bonded to the outer jacket andinclude aramid yarns.
 17. The hybrid cable of claim 12, furthercomprising first and second reinforcing tapes positioned within thecentral passage, the first and second reinforcing tapes havinglongitudinal portions that overlap one another.
 18. The hybrid cable ofclaim 9, wherein a plurality of optical fibers are positioned within thecentral passage.
 19. The hybrid cable of claim 18, wherein no buffertube is provided in the central passage, and wherein the optical fibersare coated optical fibers without buffer layers and the coated opticalfibers have outer diameters less than 300 microns.
 20. A method ofmaking a hybrid cable, the method comprising: receiving polymericmaterial from an extruder into a cross head; feeding at least oneoptical fiber, a tensile strength structure, electrical conductors, andjacket weakening members into the cross head; shaping the tensilestrength structure into a generally cylindrical shape for surroundingthe at least one optical fiber prior to entering the cross head;extruding a material about the tensile strength structure, theelectrical conductors, and the jacket weakening members to form an outerjacket of the hybrid cable, the outer jacket including a left portion, aright portion, and a central portion, the outer jacket including top andbottom sides that each have a constant thickness, the top and bottomsides each being flat and generally parallel to one another; cutting aleft pre-defined tear location positioned between the central portionand the left portion of the outer jacket, the left pre-defined tearlocation being uninterrupted and running continuously along a length ofthe hybrid cable; cutting a right pre-defined tear location positionedbetween the central portion and the right portion of the outer jacket,the right pre-defined tear location being uninterrupted and runningcontinuously along the length of the hybrid cable; and cooling thehybrid cable.